No. 12 Arkansas softball opened the 2024 season with two wins Thursday at the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Fla.
The Razorbacks defeated Marshall 10-3 in their first game of the day and host Florida Atlantic 8-0 in five innings in the second game of a doubleheader.
Mississippi State transfer right-hander Reis Beuerlein started Game 1 vs. Marshall in the circle. She threw two innings without allowing a hit, but gave up a two-run home run in the third after a leadoff single.
Marshall then added another run after a bunt single and an RBI single to take a 3-2 lead.
Hannah Camenzind relieved Beuerlein after that and got the final two outs needed to end the inning. Camenzind, a sophomore left-handed pitcher and utility player, finished the game throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings with 4 hits, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts.
Camenzind also starred at the plate for Arkansas (2-0). She drove in 3 of the Razorbacks’ 10 runs with a sac fly in the fifth and a 2-RBI single in the sixth.
First baseman Bri Ellis and second baseman Cylie Halvorson had multi-hit games, each going 2-for-3. Auburn transfer Ellis had a pair of doubles, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Halvorson hit 2 singles, drove in 2 runs, scored 2 runs and had a stolen base.
Designated hitter Rylin Hedgecock added an RBI single, shortstop Spencer Prigge had an RBI double and two walks and left fielder Raigan Kramer had an RBI single and two walks.
In Game 2, sophomore left-handed pitcher Robyn Herron started her 2024 season strong. She pitched a 5-inning shutout, allowing 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 7.
Herron committed an error in the top of the third when she misplaced a ball that was hit back to her, allowing the leadoff batter to reach. She struck out the next batter but hit the one after that, putting runners at first and second. But she induced a pop-up and a foul out to get out of the inning.
Offensively, Arkansas did most of its damage in the first inning. The Razorbacks scored five runs in the frame.
Center fielder Reagan Johnson led off with a single and advanced to second when right fielder Nia Carter reached on a fielder’s choice. Both moved up on a Hannah Gammill ground out and scored on a two-RBI single by Ellis.
After a fly out, Halvorson singled to put runners on the corners. A walk to Kramer loaded the bases, and catcher Kennedy Miller was hit by a pitch to drive in Ellis.
An error by the FAU shortstop allowed Halvorson to score and Prigge to reach, and Johnson followed that with an RBI single to score Kramer. Carter hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
Arkansas tacked on two runs in the second thanks to a two-RBI double by Kramer and added another in the fourth on a sac fly by Halvorson.
Halvorson and Johnson each had two hits and one RBI in the win.
Arkansas continues play at the Paradise Classic on Friday when it is scheduled to face Ohio at 10:30 a.m. Central. All of the Razorbacks’ remaining games at the tournament can be streamed on the subscription service FloSoftball.
Arkansas at the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Fla.
Thursday, 1 p.m. — Arkansas 10, Marshall 3
Thursday, 6 p.m. — Arkansas 8, Florida Atlantic 0 (5 innings)
Friday, 10:30 a.m. — Ohio (FloSoftball)
Saturday, 8 a.m. — Penn State (FloSoftball)
Saturday, 10:15 a.m. — Michigan State (FloSoftball)
All times are Central